All about claret and wine jugs

Although wine had been decanted into jugs for centuries, claret and wine jugs, also known as wine ewers as we know them today, are a product of the Victorian era, first making an appearance in the late 1830s.

In the early 19th century the technique of glass manufacturing was developing, and instead of being delivered in casks, wine was now able to be bottled in uniform sized and shaped glass bottles at the end of the production process.

For presentation purposes on the dining table, the more formal claret jug was preferred over that of the factory produced bottle, and as the industrial revolution progressed, the increasing wealth of the upper and middle class led to increasing demand for claret jugs. more...Some claret jugs are all silver, but the majority have a glass container with silver, silver plate or gilt mounts forming the top including the pouring spout and the handle.

The bowls of most claret jugs are clear glass, sometimes with engraved decoration with the vine being a common theme, which was often carried through to the shape of the handle. Other examples have wheel cut decoration with a hobnail cut or other geometric variation on this theme. However examples in coloured glass such as ruby, green, amethyst and blue are sometimes seen on the market, as well as rarer examples in cameo glass such as those by Thomas Webb & Co.

The simplest and most common shape of the bowls of claret jugs is of a tapering cylinder or a concave sided cylinder, but overall the range of shapes was only limited by the glass blower's imagination and the practicality of the shape.

Amongst the most collectable claret jugs are those made by London silversmith Alexander Crichton from the late 1870s. Based on the drawings of animals and birds in Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" Crichton created a series of whimsical designs including walrus, dodo, fish, squirrel, owls and penguin. Some of the Crichton jugs bear the hallmark of William Leuchars, a silver dealer with premises in London. Crichton had patented his designs and Leuchars purchased the rights to some of the designs.

The most famous silver claret jug is simply known as the "Claret Jug" and is awarded to the winner of the British Open golfing championship. It was first awarded in 1872 and this jug had the winner's name engraved on it until 1927, when a replacement was introduced which is used to the present day. As well as having his name engraved on the jug, the winner receives a replica of the jug to keep.

The peak period of popularity for claret jugs was 1840 to 1900 although they continued to be made in small numbers to the present time.

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